Hitler Jailed

April 1, 1924: Adolf Hitler is sentenced to jail. Hitler was born in 1889 and was just shy of his 35th birthday when he was sentenced. The full name of the Nazi Party was National Socialist German Workers’ Party (Nationalsozialistische Deutsche Arbeiterpartei or NSDAP). The party was active from 1919 to 1945. At its inception, the party believed “Social Welfare was the business of the State.” Corporal Adolf Hitler was sent by German army intelligence to investigate the small political party. Hitler argued with leaders who were impressed with his oratorical abilities. They invited him to join. He was listed as the 555th member, but the 500 was added for appearance sake to make the group appear larger.

Hitler became the 7th executive member of the party. His speaking style was used to gain new members. He became party chairman on July 28, 1921 and named himself Führer or leader. After dissolving the Board of Directors, there was only Hitler in charge. Their ranks swelled. Hitler’s party adopted a black uniform and a one-armed Roman salute. He was a huge fan of Benito Mussolini and the Fascists. When they seized control of Italy with a coup called the “March on Rome” Hitler began to dream of his own overthrow of the German government.

Putsch is the German word for coup d’état which is French for a sudden, forceful overthrowing of a government. The Beer Hall Putsch took place November 8-9, 1923. Hitler was backed by Erich Ludendorff, a member of the General Staff of the German Army during World War I. Gustav von Kahr, the Prime Minister of Bavaria, was making a speech when Hitler and 600 stormtroopers entered the venue – a beer hall. Hitler took the PM and two other officials into a small room and threatened them with death if they didn’t back him as the new leader of Germany.

Hitler did not guard radio or telegraph stations and so news of his putsch was sent to Berlin. As he and his followers marched through Munich, the police stopped them at a roadblock. In the ensuing confrontation 16 storm troopers and 4 police were killed. Hitler went into hiding but was arrested two days later. He could have received the death penalty for treason. Instead he was sentenced to five years in prison. He served less than a year due to Nazi Party sympathizers working on his behalf. The time in prison was spent dictating his book, Mein Kampf.

“I have three bullets for you, gentlemen, and one for me!” – Adolf Hitler to Gustav von Kahr and two others

“By means of shrewd lies, unremittingly repeated, it is possible to make people believe that heaven is hell – and hell heaven. The greater the lie, the more readily it will be believed.” – Adolf Hitler in Mein Kampf

“There must be no majority decisions, but only responsible persons, and the word ‘council’ must be restored to its original meaning. Surely every man will have advisers by his side, but the decision will be made by one man.” – Adolf Hitler in Mein Kampf

“(When Adolf Hitler spoke) it was a rhetorical masterpiece. In fact, in a few sentences he totally transformed the mood of the audience. I have rarely experienced anything like it.” – Karl von Muller

This article first appeared at Examiner.com in 2010. Editor’s update: Mein Kampf (My Struggle or My Battle) was part autobiography and part political ideology. The book came in two parts with the first published in 1925 and the second one a year later. It was edited by Bernhard Stempfle, a former Hieronymite friar who was killed during the Night of the Long Knives. The Night of the Long Knives was a purge that took place from June 30 to July 2, 1934 in order to get rid of political dissidents. Mein Kamfp was to be more than two volumes as Hitler needed to pay off quite a few debts incurred during his trial. He stopped at just two volumes, the first with 12 chapters and the second containing 15. Volume One was called A Reckoning and Volume Two was The National Socialist Movement.

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Barack Obama Senior to said that Junior greatly admired Hitler, Senior also, as he said to the United Nations that it was society’s responsibility to feed his slaves. Naturally Senior would not let them go to find their own food-they had to starve until somebody paid Senior for the food.